Week of Septemeber 16-20

Hello Parents!

I hope you had a great break week! We had so much fun the week before break. Art Prize was awesome! Thanks to all of the parents who came and volunteered their time.

"Tired Pandas" at Art Prize

This week in Reading we finished our unit on Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? We had a blast with this book! This week we practiced rhyming words and breaking apart the character names.

Giovani "writing the room" during Literacy Centers

In Writing we continued to practice picturing in our minds what we want to write about before we write. We practice visualizing a true, small moment. I am so proud of these writers and cannot wait to see them progress throughout the year!

Brown Bear Rhyming

In Math we practiced comparing numbers using cards and block towers. We practiced adding, subtracting and writing numbers 1-15. We also got to work with Ms. Kelli's class and used the iPads! We love learning with different forms of technology!

Math on the iPads!

In Social Studies this week we talked about homes, what a home is and why. We talked about different types of homes: apartments, houses, townhomes, etc. This coming week we will be talking about needs and wants and the difference between the two.

Matching upper and lowercase letters with spoons!

In Spanish this week we completed our unit on the body, or El Cuerpo. Each day we learn about the colors, numbers, days of the week, months of the year and the weather. We also try and use Spanish as much as possible throughout the day. This coming week we will begin our unit on Animals, or Los Animales. We will also learn about a Mexican Holiday, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Notes/Reminders:

-Portfolios will be sent home this week with MAPS scores. Due to Art Prize and not many kiddos being at school and without backpacks we are sending them home this week.

Thank you and have a great week!

Ms. Monica

Week of September 9-13

Hello parents! I hope you had a nice weekend!

We had so much fun this week in the Youngest Friend's room! We took our MAPS tests on the computers and did a great job! We are excited to use the computers and iPads more as the year goes on.

Using the Chromebooks for the first time!

In Reading this week we read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Eric Carle. We had so much fun with this read-together book. During our literacy centers, we practiced retelling the story, matching words to the names of the animals and our letters of the week. Next week we will continue to read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?

Sorting our letters of the week!

Working together at the Word Sort center.

Our letters of the week were D, O and R. We learned about Dee Dee Dear, Olive Octopus and Robby Rabbit. Next week we will learn G, L and H. We love the Zoo Friends! Practice these at home with your child if you can. I will be handing out a sheet with the animals at conferences.

Practicing retelling our book!

In Writing this week we learned more about stretching out words and adding more to our small moment stories. We practiced breaking apart words and counting the sounds across our fingers as we write. As we learn our letter sounds and sight words writing will begin to get easier. We will begin learning new sight words and practicing handwriting upon returning from our September break!

Writers hard at work.

In Math this week we worked in our Counting Books and practiced numbers 1-13. We practiced building number towers and comparing them to number cards. We also learned how to add and subtract from picture stories. On Friday we took an assessment to track our progress in Math. Please check into online Xtra Math if you have time at home! Let me know if you need your child's pin number.

Math time with Ms. Brook! 

In Social Studies this week we talked about Friendship and how to treat our friends nice at school. We got out three different toys in the classroom and talked about how we need to share the toys as friends because there are not enough for everyone to have their own. Finally, we graphed our favorites as a class and compared!

Jumping rope at recess!

In Spanish this week we continued to learn about the parts of the body. We studied colors, numbers, days of the week, months of the year and the weather. Next week will complete our unit on the body, or El Cuerpo.

Vocabulary to practice:
El Cuerpo-the body
La cabeza-head
Las rodillas-knees
Los hombros-shoulders
Los codos-elbows
Los dedos-fingers
Los pies-feets
Las manos-hands
La cadera-hip
La cara-face
Los ojos-eyes
Las orejas-ears
La boca-mouth
La nariz-nose
El estomago-stomach

Reading our emergent Brown Bear books together!

Notes/Reminders:

-Student-led conferences are this week Tuesday and Thursday. Please contact me if you need to know your child's time
-a graph about the 7 Habits will be sent home tomorrow for you to complete as a parent. Please bring this with you to your child's conference
-please send in $7 for Art Prize and Growth Portfolios. Planners are $6

I am excited to see you all at conferences to celebrate your child's Education!

~Ms. Monica

Week of September 3-6

Hello parents!

We had a "silly" week back! We loved reading our book Silly Sally this week. What fun!

In Reading this week we read Silly Sally by Audrey Wood. We practiced retelling the story and matching the character picture to the word. On Friday, we made pages to go in our Silly Class Book. This week we learned letters S, I and F. We reviewed letters A, M and T. Ask your child about Sammy Snake, Inny Inchworm and Francie Fish. We also practiced guided reading in small reading groups. Way to go readers!

We had so much fun making our class book!

In Writing this week we practiced stretching words out and writing about even hard to write ideas. We practiced some of our writer's sayings: "I think I can" and "I can solve it myself!" We practiced stretching out words like a rubber band, listening for the first, middle and last sounds. They did a great job!

Writers hard at work.

In Math this week we practiced adding and subtracting on our counting mats with tiles. We also compared squares and circles and talked about similarities and differences. These mathematicians are on their way!

Practicing our letters with a game of "Letter Swat."

In Social Studies this week we talked about rules at home and rules at school. We each drew a picture of a room in our house and talked about the rules that go with that room. Students enjoyed sharing the different rules from their home. We also talked about how we are all alike and different and what makes us unique.

Retelling the book Silly Sally during centers.

In Spanish this week we practiced colors, numbers 1-20, days of the week, months of the year and the weather. These are things we practice on a daily basis. This month we are learning about the parts of the body. We have been singing a song called "Juanito" to help us learn the parts of the body. We have also been playing Simon Dice, or "Simon Says" in Spanish. 

Fun at the Word Sorting center!

Notes/Reminders:

-please continue to send in money for growth portfolios, Art Prize and planners. If you have done so already, thank you!

-please send an extra pair of clothes to stay at school with your child

Thank you to those of you who volunteered to drive for field trips!!

Have a great week!

Ms. Monica